The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-01-15
Force of circumstances.

the word indicates, and to which W
sustain personal relations. They con
stitute force by which our will is sway
ed, and our character and destiny ar
in great measure determined. We arr
what we are, we believe as we do, anC
we follow the peculiar vocation which
we are supposed to have chosen, mainly
because of the force of circumstances
Science teaches US that everything i
shaped by its environment. All rose
were originally from the same stock
and the marvellous variety of flower!
which now adorn our gardens is the re
suit of careful culture-in other words
of readjustment of the circumstance!
which surround the plant. The law o.
evolution, of which we hear so much,
is based upon the same principle.
There is such thing as becoming the
Ozctim of circumstances, sometimes with.
out any fault of our own, and sometime:
through our own folly and weakness
Here is young man in a merchant
employ, when it is discovered that GER
tain goods are missing. Circumstantial
evidence seem to indicate, beyond a
doubt, that this young man is the thief.
He is charged with the crime, and de.
nies it stoutly, and with the truth on
his side; Notwithstanding this, he may
be declared guilty and punished-or he
may escape punishment, but stain rests
upon his name, which makes him very
wretched, hinders him from getting en-
ployment, blasts all his prospects, and
makes his life burden.
Again: A guilty man may plead as
an excuse for his crime that he found
himself so entrapped by circumstances,
so hampered and embarrassed, that there
seemed to be no other possible alterna-
tive, and he was driven by desperation
to commit the fraud, in defiance of his
reason and his conscience. Many a
man who was supposed to be impervious
TO temptation. and ruhn.. ony ono would
have entrusted with untold gold, has
fallen from his high estate, simply be-
cause he was too weak to stand erect
when the storm of adversely began to rock
his soul. Circumstances are not omnip-
otent, and can never rob a man of his
freedom Or justify his sin. A machine
must yield to the power which impels
it, and must be guided by the bands and
wheels and cogs and springs which di-
rect it; but man is not machine; if
he were, of course he would not be re-
sponsible.
Some people imagine that they are
kept from rising in the world merely by
the power of circumstances. They have
no one to help them forward; they can
find no opening that suits them-per-
haps none at all; or if they find an
opening there is always something to
hinder their success. There are such
men in all departments of life, and it is
pitiful to meet them-they always want
something, and do not see that the fault
is in themselves, and that they do not
rise because they are indolent, or in
competent, or inefficient, or. unwise.
The able men are those who rise in spite
of circumstances, and create their own
environment. They take things into
their own hands, and bend them to their
own purpose.
1t is very important that we should
learn how to adapt ourselves to circum-
stances, and make the best of them. In
this respect we may learn lesson from
the birds, who adapt their nests to the
locality; and from the plants whose
roots wander here and there in search
of the most propitious soil. As man
may be kept down by the force of cir.
cumstances, SO he may be lifted by the
force of the same circumstances if ne
only knows how to use them. Two
young men may start in life with pre-
cisely the same surroundings, and while
they seem only to hinder and hamper
the one, they reserve as an aid and in
centive to the other, who is ready not
onlyto grasp the skirts fhappy chance,
but also to breast the blows of circum-
stance.
There are certain instincts in our ma.
ture which will assert themselves, in de-
fiance of all our theories. Our abstract
notions of free-will go for very little
when we are called to take in hand the
practical duties of life. A man may
call himself a fatalist, and say that the
laws of destiny are inexorable, and that
he is mere creature of circumstances
and therefore not a responsible free
agent; but if another man should pick
his pocket, or forge his name, or Sc
fire to his house, he would be very Ger
tain to hold him responsible. When
ever one says, II didn't it is an ac
acknowledgement that circumstances are
not omnipotent-there is an II back o
the circumstances, and that 4, is be
ing who has power of choice. | dc
not mean to affirm that the force of cir
cumstances can be overcome in some
cases, without terrible, agonizing ct
fort. For these outside influences, thes'
things which stand around us may en-
circle our path with tongues of fire, ant
we may not be able to break through
them without being scorched and burned
to the very bone. Let that man rejoic
and give thanks who is never thus sore
attempted; let that man give profounde
thanks, who, having been tempted, hat
been delivered from the evil one. Fo
he comes out of the contest stronge
than he was before, and better able t
fight again, if it should be so ordered.
Significance of Precious Stones.
New York Mail.
August, sardonyx; ensures conjugs
felicity. :,
June, agate; ensures long life, healt
and prosperity.
December, turquoise; gives success:
especially in love.
April, diamond; denotes faith, inne
cence and virginity.
May, emerald; discovers false frieno
and ensures true love.
February, amethyst; a preventi'
against violent passions.
January, garnet; constancy and tde
ity in every engagement.
March, bloodstone; courage, wisdo'
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